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F. W. DREWS.

' WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. I9I9.

1,3 1 1,801 Patented July 29, 1919.

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FRANK W. imnws', or wILLMAa, MINNESOTA.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

WRENCH. l i

Patented July 29, 1919.

Applicationfiled April 22, 1919. Serial No. 291,812.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, FRANK W. Dnnws, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willmar, in the county of Kandiyohi and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in W'renches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches and comprehends' a construction wherein the movable jaw can be very quickly and easily adjusted with regard to the fixed jaw, and effectively held in gripping relation therewith. v

To this end the invention consists in the provision of a wrench having a toothed shank, upon which amovable jaw is slidablymounted, a toothed locking element be ing slidably associated with the movable jaw and connected with a cam which actuates to release the element from engagement with the shank, but effectively holds the teeth of said locking element engaged with the teeth of the shank.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the fol lowing detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the movable jaw.

Fig. 4.- is a similar view of the associated cam and locking element.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable jaw showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the shank of the wrench which is substantially rectangular in formation for the major portion of its length, and cylindrical for the remaining portion of its length to accommodate a handle 11. A fixed jaw 12 is arranged at one end of the shank, while one of the longitudinal edges of the shank is provided with teeth 13.

A movable jaw 14 is mounted upon the shank 10 for free sliding movement toward and away from the fixed jaw 13. The movable jaw 14 is provided with a pocket 15 in which is arranged the locking element or block 16, susceptible of movement toward and away from the shank 10. One side of the locking elementor block is provided with teeth 17, which are adapted to cooper ate with the teeth of the shank to hold the movable jaw in gripping relation with regard to the fixed jaw, as will hereinafter be more fully described. A cam 19 having spaced apertured lugs 20 is positioned between the sides of the movable jaw, immediately above the locking element or block, a pivot 21 being passed through the sides of the movable jaw and the lugs 20 of the cam for supporting the latter for pivotal movement. Links 22 provide a connection be tween the locking element or block and the cam 19 so that movement of the cam controls the movement of the locking element or block. As shown in Fig. 1, a manipulating element 23 is secured to the cam projecting therefrom. in a plane parallel with the shank 10, the manipulating element extending an appreciable distance beyond one side of the movable jaw to be readily grasped by the user of the wrench.

In practice, when it is desired to effect an adjustment of the movable jaw with regard to the fixed jaw, the manipulating element 23 is actuated to move the cam 19 upon its pivot in an upward direction, during which movement of the cam the latter is gradually moved away from the locking element or block, but by reason of the connection between the cam and the block by means of the link 22, the locking element or block is moved away from the shank 10. The movable jaw is thus released for free sliding movement, and can be readily and easily positioned at any desired location upon the shank 10. Subsequent to the positionin of the movable jaw with regard to the fi xed jaw, the manipulating element 23 is actuated to swing the cam in a reverse direction, during which operation the cam engages the locking element or block moving the latter into engagement with the shank 10 and holding the teeth of the block effectively engaged with the teeth of the shank. Manifestly, when the parts are thus positioned,

the movable jaw is securely and positively held in gripping relation with regard to the fixed jaw.

Upon reference to Fig. 5 of the drawing,

. any projection which vision ofa slot 28 in upon lease of the jaw.

it will be noted that the manipulating element for the cam 26 is disposed to operate at one side of the wrench. The cam 26 controls the movement of the locking element 27 exactly the same in this instance as hereinabo've described in connection with the preferred form of the invention, the difference in construction residing in the prothe movable jaw for the reception of the manipulation element 25 When the cam has been moved to an active position to hold the movable jaw locked the shank. When the manipulating element is so disposed, it lies flush with one side of the movable jaw, thus eliminating casually might be brought into contact with some obstacle during the use of the wrench, and effect the re- Idesire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangementof parts herein disclosed,

and that such changes maybe resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what, is claimed. 1

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

What I claim is A wrench comprising a shank having a toothed surface, a fixed j aw, a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank and provided with a pocket, a locking element movably arranged-within said pocket and having teeth to cooperate with the teeth of the shank to hold'said aw in a given position on the shank, a lever extended transversely of the sliding jaw, and pivoted between. the walls of said pocket, a cam forming anintegral part of said lever and offsettherefrom at one end," said cam being arranged within said pocket and operable therein, a pair of links freely pivoted at corresponding extremities to the opposite end. portions of said cam, the opposite ends of saidlinks being freely pivoted to the adjacent ends of said locking element, whereby the latter is lifted and lowered toward and away from the shank in said pocket when the lever. is swung upon its pivot 1n reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 7

FRANK w. DR ws.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

